Showcasing innovation at Advanced Engineering Show

This was the case when teams from igus developed a honeycomb structure to provide unique strain relief for its energy supply systems. Cables and hoses are simply inserted into a honeycomb, called the CFU, and then closed. Compared to cable tie-wraps or other strain relief solutions, the engineer can save about 80% assembly and engineering time.

Once the cables and hoses are inserted into the CFU and closed, the outer walls of the honeycomb cavities lie gently and uniformly around the cables. The honeycomb system is assembled in seconds and is also extremely flexible, as new cables can be inserted or replaced by hand.

“We always work closely with our customers to see how best our products can be placed to fulfil their specific needs” explained Matthew Aldridge, managing director, igus. “In doing so we have often developed new products that either extend the capabilities of a previous model or build upon the product so that it satisfies different needs for different engineers.”

Another such innovation, that igus will demonstrate at the show, is the drylin delta robot. Developed to satisfy the need for a lightweight automation solution for assembly tasks, it can be fitted into a production line and simply become a part of the process. Available directly from stock as a pre-assembled kit or delivered ready to install, the system can be used immediately.